Ringing highlights

Hello

A cold night but then sunshine and blue skies for much of the day made it very pleasant to be out!

A ringing session at Harrington Airfield today was a modest affair with just 58 birds processed. Thrushes were the main impetus and we managed seven Fieldfares, two Blackbirds, nineteen Redwings and a Song Thrush. 

Smaller birds included two Reed Buntings, two Yellowhammers, ten Chaffinches, four Goldfinches and two Tree Sparrows. A first year male Sparrowhawk was a bonus! Another fifteen or so Chaffinches were released at the net due to their poor condition with the majority of them exhibiting diseased legs/feet.

Other birds on-site included a Woodcock, about sixty Golden Plovers, two coveys of Grey Partridges, a Raven and a male Brambling.

On Sunday a Corn Bunting was caught and ringed at a private site between Brigstock and Grafton Underwood.

Back to today and there was a Birdguides report of the Parrot Crossbill again at Wakerley Wood, south west of the car park early this afternoon with a small party of Crossbills. There were also four Black-necked Grebes at Stanford Reservoir both yesterday afternoon and again today with recent reports of the two Bearded Tits being present too with a drake Scaup there this afternoon.

At Clifford Hill Pits today there was a Great White Egret, six Goosanders and twenty-four Golden Plovers. Hollowell Reservoir continues to host the Great Northern Diver, a single Great White Egret, six Pink-footed Geese, a Caspian Gull, two Stonechats and a single Crossbill.

At Thrapston Pits today Eric notched up the five Great White Egrets, an Egyptian Goose and two Kingfishers but there was no sign of yesterday's scoters.

Regards

Neil M

First year male Sparrowhawk.

Fieldfare.

Redwing.

Blue Tit.
Above images courtesy
of Beth Clyne.

Corn Bunting courtesy
of Rich Goswell.